1 . Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
If you’re a high school student looking for research opportunities, it doesn’t get much better than the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program. This well-known research program has a selection rate of less than 3% and only 12 high school juniors or seniors are selected every summer to join the program.
In this post, we will dive deep into this program to help you understand the structure, the cost, location, research areas available, and reasons why you should apply for this intensive research program.
About Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program was established in 1963 in honor of Anson L. Clark , a former Texas A&M student who proceeded to create a successful business career!
This program is an intensive 7-week comprehensive research program that will allow you to gain hands-on practical research under the mentorship (导师制) of Texas Tech University faculty. Apart from conducting one-on-one research with faculty, you will have additional weekly seminars, discussions and even field visits!
Time
The program is off line and is conducted every summer at Texas Tech University. The current program dates are June 16, 2024 to August 1, 2024.
Cost
There is no program or registration fee, and your on-campus meals, on-campus room and board, and weekend activities will be covered by the program!
Research Areas
While the list of research disciplines for Summer 2024 haven’t been released, some of the general areas (based on the Summer 2023 disciplines) you can expect are biology, chemistry, computer science, economics/business, finance/marketing, electrical engineering & computer engineering, history, and physics.
You can access the specific research topics in 2023 in the attachment!
Qualification
This program is open to high school juniors and seniors who will graduate in either 2024 or 2025. You will have to be at least 17 years of age by the program start date.
1. What do we know about the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program?| A．It’s an annual research program. | B．It is hard to complete the program. |
| C．It is in honor of a famous scientist. | D．It is open to all high school students. |
| A．Visit Texas Tech University. | B．Create business career. |
| C．Listen to lectures online. | D．Do practical research. |
| A．By searching on the internet. | B．By referring to 2023 disciplines. |
| C．By paying registration fee. | D．By asking the mentors in college. |
2 . “What do you mean by this phrase? It’s incorrect and adds nothing to the sentence. Omit (省略).” Professor Jones’s critical feedback on my paper hurt me when I first read it. I scanned his comments for a “Good job!” or “I love this idea,” but they were nowhere to be found.
Everyone likes warmth and encouragement, but purely positive affirmations (肯定) don’t communicate what can be improved. Research conducted on Character Lab Research Network finds that direct, useful feedback requiring students to revise their own work is more effective. For Professor Jones, this looked like a note at the end of another paper: “I’m sure things will improve as the term and year wear on.” However, feedback that does the work for a student—correcting a misspelled word, rewriting a sentence—can signal a teacher’s low expectations.
When kids see comments that suggest what needs to be changed, they come to realize they can do things on their own and become more independent learners. As a bonus, this kind of feedback lets students know that their teacher believes in them.
As for me, I was benedictory for Professor Jones’s pointed criticism which let me know that he took me seriously. He was expecting me to do better, and the detailed comments scrawled (潦草地写) on every page gave me the tools to improve. Teachers can add affirmations to their feedback as long as it’s not the only thing they’re doing.
Don’t confuse warmth with promoting a growth mindset. Being nice isn’t the same as showing someone you believe they can improve. So give detailed feedback that sets young people up to take charge of their own learning. For example, instead of rewriting a sentence, say: “This is a run-on sentence. Try reading it out loud and add punctuation in places where you naturally take a breath.” Ask worth-exploring questions that inspire students to think about their approach, then let them revise on their own. When it comes to writing, the easiest path isn’t always the best one.
1. How did the author initially feel about Professor Jones’s feedback?| A．Happy and motivated. | B．Upset and disappointed. |
| C．Indifferent and unconcerned. | D．Confident and encouraged. |
| A．It should be brief and to the point. | B．It should be warm and encouraging. |
| C．It should be written at the end of the paper. | D．It should be up to students to fix their own work. |
| A．Responsible. | B．Generous. | C．Regretful. | D．Grateful. |
| A．Give students general praise. | B．Rewrite sentences for students. |
| C．Provide students critical support. | D．Show students corrected assignments. |
3 . The award-winning documentary “Feeding Tomorrow” explores the American food system’s shortcomings and the urgent need for change. Directed by Oliver and Simon English, the film dives deep into the complex web of issues surrounding food, climate change, and agriculture, leaving viewers with a clear realization of the challenges ahead.
At its core, “Feeding Tomorrow” raises fundamental questions about humanity’s relationship with the planet and the consequences of our consumption patterns. As the global population reaches up to 10 billion, the film shows the serious reality that our current methods of food production are unsustainable. With agriculture already occupying half of the habitable land and consuming 70% of freshwater resources, the harm on the environment is reaching critical levels.
The documentary reveals the interconnectedness of food, climate, and health, weaving together narratives from diverse voices in the fields of farming, health, and education. Through the stories of innovators like Mark Shepard, Clare Fox, and Lisa McDowell, “Feeding Tomorrow” highlights the urgent need for systemic change.
One of the central themes of the documentary is the importance of regenerative farming practices. By promoting biodiversity and topsoil growth, regenerative agriculture offers a promising path towards sustainability. The film emphasizes the need to transition from conventional, monoculture (单一) farming to more overall approaches.
Moreover, “Feeding Tomorrow” shows the significance of adopting plant-forward diets and reducing meat consumption. With animal agriculture being a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation (恶化), the documentary advocates for a shift towards more sustainable dietary habits.
Ultimately, “Feeding Tomorrow” serves as a cry for collective action and social change. It challenges viewers to reevaluate their relationship with food and embrace sustainable practices that benefit both people and the planet. The documentary reminds us that the power to shape a better future lies in our hands. In the words of Mark Shepard, “What are you going to eat for dinner tonight? Start asking the questions.”
1. What do we know about our current food production methods?| A．They are suitable to feed the increasing population. |
| B．They are inefficient and harmful to the environment. |
| C．They are too focused on producing large quantities of food. |
| D．They are all outdated and need to be replaced with new ones. |
| A．To praise their achievements. | B．To indicate different opinions. |
| C．To stress the necessity of change. | D．To give examples of farming methods. |
| A．Keep the balance of nature. | B．Take up sustainable practices. |
| C．Prioritize economic interests. | D．Invest in agricultural innovations. |
| A．To briefly introduce an award-winning film. | B．To explore American agriculture’s issues. |
| C．To present new food production methods. | D．To show the impact of climate on agriculture. |
4 . On a Saturday in November, Annacarin Elf, the head of Gothenburg City Library, just happened to walk by her workplace. Noticing that the door was unlocked, she entered the library, and was surprised that people were using it like on a regular day.
However, it was scheduled to be closed for the November 4 All Saints’ Day holiday, dedicated to remembering the dearly departed and for spending time with family. “In the library, many were sitting reading newspapers, some families were in the children’s section and others were searching for books on the computer,” Elf told The Local.
It seemed that Elf’s colleagues had simply forgotten to lock the door, and because this popular library is usually open on Saturdays, people just assumed they could walk in. Elf called to check with her staff team, before announcing that the library was about to close. The visitors calmly shut their books and left, some taking their books with them.
It later demonstrated that 446 locals visited the city library, borrowing a total of 246 books during the day. What’s remarkable is that clients checked out their books via the library’s electronic self-service system, and that to date, all the books have been returned!
While Elf did express surprise that the library seemed emptier than usual, due to the lack of staff, she highly praised the care shown by locals: “Nothing was destroyed. It’s amazing that Gothenburgers enter an empty library and treat it so lovingly.” The library itself was quick to show its support in an appreciative post with “Thank you for Saturday, dear Gothenburg.”
This story really attracted Swedes, going viral in the country. They were moved by this community’s respect for the books and equipment of what is a treasured community resource. The Mayor EU has even suggested that this unusual Saturday serves as an experiment of the possibility of operating a totally automated library.
1. Why did Elf enter the library on Saturday?| A．She was doing some research. | B．She forgot that it was a holiday. |
| C．The library was accidentally left open. | D．The library was usually open on Saturdays. |
| A．They behaved normally as usual. | B．They held family party in the library. |
| C．They checked the self-service system. | D．They volunteered to serve as librarians. |
| A．The honest community spirit. | B．The library’s appreciation to visitors. |
| C．The community’s treasured resources. | D．The library’s unusual Saturday service. |
| A．A Library Looked Up To The Bookworms | B．A Library Operated An Unusual Experiment |
| C．A Library Can Bring Out The Best In People | D．A Library Was Open For All Saints’ Day Holiday |
5 . The health of our oceans is related to the planet’s overall environmental condition, with ocean currents (洋流) playing a key role in reflecting Earth’s climate. A recent study has shed new light on the impact of rising ocean temperatures on one of these vital current systems.
This significant research provides the first documented proof of a significant slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC (大西洋经向翻转环流). Alexey Mishonov and his team dive deep into the data in NOAA’s World Ocean Atlas to track down the AMOC’s performance over time. Their findings reveal a change: from 1955 to 1994, the AMOC’s flow remained unchanged. However, starting in the mid-1990s, a marked decline in its strength was observed, with a striking reduction in its speed.
Mishonov explains the signs of weakening circulation in Atlantic ocean currents, stating, “If AMOC slows down, the heat exchange will be reduced, which in turn will affect the climate, causing hot areas to get hotter and cold areas to get colder.” This imbalance could have far-reaching effects on global climate patterns, possibly leading to more extreme weather conditions, rising sea levels, disorders to marine (海洋的) ecosystems, and a mass of other climate feedbacks.
Mishonov’s research also touches on the cultural spirit, referring to the dramatic description of a similar scene in the 2004 disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow. While he stated that the film’s scenes with explosive effects is highly exaggerated and not supported by the scientific community, the hidden message — that a significant slowdown in the AMOC could lead to great and unpredictable climate changes — resonates with (与……共鸣) many experts.
As the scientific community continues to uncover the mysteries of our oceans, the significance of Mishonov and his workmates’ work cannot be overstated. Their research contributes to our understanding of the relationship between ocean currents and global climate.
1. How was the research carried out?| A．By referring to huge data. | B．By recording ocean movements. |
| C．By modeling the ocean currents. | D．By doing practical experiments. |
| A．The increased heat exchange has an impact on the climate. |
| B．Rising sea levels from climate change could be prevented. |
| C．The slowdown of AMOC leads to extreme climate conditions. |
| D．The heated temperature may quicken the movement of the ocean. |
| A．To stress how scientific the story is. |
| B．To warn people of uncertain climate change risks. |
| C．To criticize the exaggerated threat in the movie. |
| D．To draw attention to the explosive effects of the movie. |
| A．The AMOC: A Potential Risk to the Earth |
| B．Ocean Currents: The Very Signals of Our Planet |
| C．Water Temperature: A Lasting Unavoidable Change |
| D．Climate Change: An Increasing Concern Around the World |
6 . Magazines make great reading materials for kids. Libraries often have a large selection of periodicals (期刊) for every age group and reading level, and for many areas of interest. And some magazines may even have issues going back years and even decades! Below is a list of some of them!
Military Kids LifeIt is about finding the bright side of life as a military kid! Inside each quarterly issue, your child will encounter inspiring stories, articles, and photographs! (8 to 16 years)
FacesWith articles, folk tales, and hands-on projects, Faces magazine takes young readers around the world for an honest and objective view of how children in other regions live. (9 to 14 years)
MakeMake magazine published posted projects, skill-building tutorials (辅导课), in-depth reviews and inspirational stories, accessible by all ages and skill ranges. (9 to 18 years)
BrioBrio magazine for teen girls has a fresh new look that includes more pages filled with inspiring profiles, cultural insights, health & beauty tips, faith-filled features and added fun! (13 to 18 years)
Please note: Though all the magazines on this list are written for children, some issues may contain content that you may feel inappropriate for your child. As always, please review all reading materials before giving them to your child to read.
1. Which magazine can help develop kids’ international awareness?| A．Faces. | B．Make. |
| C．Brio. | D．Military Kids Life. |
| A．All the magazines are proper for children. |
| B．Some magazines have back issues in libraries. |
| C．Magazines are usually published for children. |
| D．Only magazines for kids are accessible in libraries. |
| A．To argue. | B．To entertain | C．To persuade. | D．To inform. |
7 . Navarre Scott Momaday became the first Native American to win a Pulitzer Prize after publishing his first novel, House Made of Dawn, in 1968.
Momaday didn’t feel that the recognition was as deserving as others thought. The Kiowa writer had always considered himself a poet above all else. “I don’t think of myself as a novelist,” he told the Los Angeles Times’s Edward Iwata. “I still feel poetry is the highest form of literature.” Many years after House Made of Dawn’s publication, he still saw its success as an accident.
Momaday died at age 89, and he left behind an astonishing literary achievement. His barrier-breaking novel paved the way for a new generation of Native American authors, including James Welch, Leslie Marmon Silko, Louise Erdrich and Joy Harjo. His distinctive style and vivid descriptions make the comparison to poetry appropriate. “That’s exactly what it was,” says Kevin Gover, a citizen of the Pawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. “It really reads like poetry. It is quite unique. I’ve seen very little that’s like it before or since.”
Momaday was born on February 27, 1934, in Lawton, Oklahoma. When he was a baby, the family relocated to a reservation in Arizona. They moved once again to Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, when he was 12. Momaday has said that the main character of his first novel is a combination of the troubled individuals he knew as a child at Jemez Pueblo. After earning a master’s degree and PhD in English from Stanford University, Momaday taught at several institutions. He wrote House Made of Dawn in the mornings before class.
“House Made of Dawn was about what it means to be Native in contemporary circumstances,” says Gover, who remembers following the novel’s publication and rise to literary praise when he was a child. “Momaday was from my part of the country, down in southwest Oklahoma. I remember we were all amazed — not that we could appreciate when we were kids the quality of his work — but just the fact that somebody like us had produced something that was winning such praise.”
1. What did Momaday think of his winning the Pulitzer Prize?| A．It’s rewarding. | B．It’s honorable. |
| C．It’s unexpected. | D．It’s challenging. |
| A．To compare Momaday with them. |
| B．To emphasize Momaday’s influence on them. |
| C．To help readers understand Momaday’s book. |
| D．To tell Momaday’s writing style comes from them. |
| A．Lawton, Oklahoma. | B．Stanford University. |
| C．The reservation in Arizona. | D．Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico. |
| A．It’s hard for Native American authors to succeed. |
| B．Modern society favors the literary creation. |
| C．House Made of Dawn wasn’t a hit at first. |
| D．He has loved literature since childhood. |
8 . Being bored is no fun, especially at work. But new research out of the Research School of Management at Australian National University argues that while boredom is certainly boring, it isn’t all bad. The disliked mental state can actually spark precious creativity.
The study asked 52 subjects to do a pretty boring job: sort apart a bowl of red and green beans with just one hand for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, 49 other subjects — the control group — were instructed to create art projects with paper, beans and glue. Once the 30 minutes was over, each group was instructed to spend five minutes on a creative task: they had to come up with reasons why a hypothetical (假定的) person was two hours late for a meeting.
The bored group came up with not just more ideas than the control group, but more creative ideas than the control group, too. The quality and quantity of production was higher for people who were bored than those who were not. Creativity itself was measured under a standard that balanced novelty and practicality. Ideas had to fit both criteria to be considered creative.
Guiyun Park, the study’s lead author, readily admits that not every type of job permits the fun of boredom, and it can really be harmful to some important work. But for designers and anyone in a creative field, boredom is not something to fear, but to embrace. Sometimes, the best way to be productive is to expect nothing of yourself at all.
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The process of the research. | B．The benefits of the research. |
| C．The reasons for the research. | D．The disadvantage of the research. |
| A．Boredom can do harm to some work. |
| B．All types of jobs can embrace boredom. |
| C．Boredom is not always something to fear. |
| D．Boredom can be favourable to art designers. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Negative. | C．Positive. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．The Role of Boredom in Increasing Productivity |
| B．The Negative Impact of Boredom on the Workplace |
| C．Why Boredom Should Be Avoided in Creative Fields |
| D．Unlocking Creativity: The Unexpected Benefit of Boredom |
9 . Every afternoon for the past 11 years, 83-year-old AI Merritt has been a reliable and cheery presence in his southeast Carlsbad neighbourhood, California.
His wife, Penny Merritt said her husband’s doctor suggested he get more exercise after he had some heart trouble about 12 years ago. When their son, Kevin brought a bike to his parents’ house, AI started to pedal around the local road and hills. At first, his rides were about five miles long, then 10 to 12 miles, and gradually the length of his outings grew due to all the social stops — from an hour to two hours.
Since 2010, Merritt has been on a personal pursuit to cycle the circumference (周长) of the earth — 24,901 miles without even leaving his own neighbourhood. As a result, over the years, he got to know many of his neighbours and send them message of love and kindness. Judy Keene, one of his neighbours, has been waving to Merritt on his daily rides for the past five years.
“He is so reliable, like clockwork. Every day I see him flying by on his bike. He is totally cheerful and takes time with everybody,” Keene said. “He inspires so many people and shows everyone how you can be in your 80s and still have a good time.”
It was not until October 24 that the old man finally realized his daily bicycle trips were as important to them as they were to him. At 3 p.m. that Sunday afternoon, nearly 200 people gathered near his home to surprise and congratulate him on the completion of his “round-the-world” adventure. As he pedaled down the hill towards his house, a roar erupted from the crowd waving international flags, hand-painted signs and Earth-shaped balloons. The outpouring of love stunned and overwhelmed Merritt.
“It’s just unbelievable. I couldn’t have imagined anything like this ever happening,” he said. Although Merritt has now accomplished his cycling goal, he has no plans to change the routine that has become the highlight of his daily life.
1. Why did old AI Merritt start to cycle?| A．He has always been an athletic person. |
| B．His son Kevin brought him a new bike. |
| C．He wanted to send love and kindness to others. |
| D．He was advised to work out for the sake of his health. |
| A．Merritt stopped to help those in need. |
| B．Merritt tried to help build stops for social use. |
| C．Merritt had interactions with his neighbours. |
| D．Merritt was stopped for some social reasons. |
| A．His trips mattered more to his neighbours than to him. |
| B．He was warmly congratulated on his completion of the plan. |
| C．He will keep on cycling on a different route as he has planned. |
| D．He accomplished his goal of cycling 24,901 miles around the earth. |
| A．Diligent and determined. | B．Optimistic and selfless. |
| C．Ambitious and romantic. | D．Kind and inspirational. |
10 . Summer Trip Programs
Are you looking for a fun and exciting way to spend your summer vacation? Do you want to learn new skills, make new friends, and explore new places? If your answer is yes, then you should join one of our summer trip programs!
We offer a variety of programs for different ages, interests, and budgets. You can choose from:
●Adventure Camp: This program is for thrill-seekers who want to try outdoor activities like hiking, camping, rafting, zip-lining, and more. You will visit beautiful natural sites and learn how to survive in the wild. This program is for ages 12 to 18 and costs $1,500 for two weeks.
●Cultural Exchange: This program is for curious learners who want to experience different cultures and languages. You will travel to a foreign country and stay with a host family. You will attend a local school, visit cultural attractions, and participate in community service. This program is for ages 15 to 21 and costs $3,000 for four weeks.
●Creative Workshop: This program is for artistic souls who want to express themselves through various forms of art. You will join a group of talented instructors and students who share your passion. You will learn how to paint, draw, sculpt, write, sing, dance, and more. You will also showcase your work at the end of the program. This program is for ages 10 to 16 and costs $1,000 for one week.
If you are interested in any of these programs, please visit our website or contact us for more information. Hurry up and sign up before the spots fill up! We hope to see you soon!
1. What age group is the Adventure Camp program for?| A．10 to 16. | B．12 to 18. |
| C．15 to 21. | D．12 to 2. |
| A．Thrill-seekers. | B．Curious learners. |
| C．Artistic souls. | D．All kinds of people. |
| A．Adventure Camp. | B．Cultural Exchange. |
| C．Creative Workshop. | D．All are the same duration. |
